A Maryland man was arrested before boarding a plane at a New York airport in the murder case in which the victim's body was found in the trunk of his car at the Shady Grove Metro station last year.

Michael A. Stahlnecker, 51, of Crofton, was charged with first-degree murder and other crimes in the death of 31-year-old John P. Ryan, according to the Maryland State Police.

Ryan's body was found Dec. 3, in his 2007 Lexus in a parking lot near the Metro station. He was found with a wad of cash and next to nearly a pound of marijuana.

Police had been searching for Ryan since his wife reported him missing several days earlier.

Police said Ryan had been under investigation on allegations that he was involved in the importation and distribution of marijuana. Stahlnecker was as a close associate of Ryan's in this operation, police said.

State police said Ryan had a meeting with Stahlnecker at a warehouse in Laurel on Nov. 28.

A search warrant served at the warehouse resulted in the recovery of Ryan's blood near a loading dock and on a bristles of a broom outside the business, police said.

Police said investigators determined Stahlnecker owed large amounts of money to several people.

Pedestrian killed in Aspen Hill

A 59-year-old pedestrian was killed when he was struck by a car in the Aspen Hill area.

Montgomery County Police said Frank Sedwick was crossing Georgia Avenue at Heathfield Road about 10:30 a.m. Monday when he was struck by a 2005 Nissan Altima. Sedwick was flown to a hospital where he died.

The 24-year-old driver of the Nissan remained on the scene.

Police are still investigating. Anyone with information about the collision can call police at 240-773-6620. Callers can remain anonymous.